MLB Player News

Sears (2-2) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three over 4.1 innings to take the loss versus the Blue Jays on Friday.

Sears gave up one run in the fourth inning and left a mess on the bases in the fifth. Jhony Brito wasn't able to prevent additional damage, giving up a three-run home run to Kazuma Okamoto to tack on two extra runs on Sears' line. Over four starts, Sears has a 5.03 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB through 19.2 innings. It's not yet clear if Sears will maintain a spot in the rotation after the All-Star break.

Alcantara (10-5) took the loss Friday against the Guardians, allowing three runs on five hits across seven innings while striking out eight.

Alcantara gave up a two-run shot to Chase DeLauter in the top of the fourth and another run in the fifth on a Travis Bazzana sac fly. Despite the loss, Alcantara has been a reliable arm throughout the season. He's allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his last five starts, and this loss snapped a streak of seven straight starts with a win for the 30-year-old. Alcantara has a 3.99 ERA in 130.2 innings this season and is lined up to make his next start against the Brewers on the road Friday, July 17.

McLean (6-6) took the loss against Boston on Friday, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven across six innings.

It was a tough-luck loss for McLean, as both of the runs that the Red Sox scored in the first inning were unearned due to a throwing error by Juan Soto. McLean kept Boston off the board over the next five frames, but he didn't get enough run support from his New York teammates to avoid the loss, though he still came away with his third straight quality start (and 10th of the season). He'll enter the All-Star break with a 3.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 125:39 K:BB over 107.1 innings this season.

Imanaga (5-8) took the loss against the Reds on Friday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings.

Imanaga allowed at least one baserunner in each of the first four innings he pitched, but he did just enough to keep the Reds off the board. That scoreless effort came to an end on an Elly De La Cruz solo homer in the fifth, and while that was the only run Imanaga gave up Friday, he was still tagged with the loss as his Cubs teammates failed to score a run. Imanaga went through a rough patch from mid-May to early June, but he's given up two earned runs or less in five of his last six outings, posting a 2.81 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 32 innings in that span. He enters the All-Star break with a 4.17 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 105:27 K:BB across 108 innings.

Greene (1-1) earned the win against the Cubs on Friday, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out 12 across seven innings.

Greene was roughed up for eight runs in his 2026 debut against the Orioles this past Saturday, but he looked like his old self in Friday's home game. He struck out the side in the sixth inning and limited the Cubs to just four baserunners, and his 12 punchouts were tied for the second-most in his major-league career, the fourth time he's reached that mark. Friday was almost certainly Greene's final outing before the All-Star break, and his return to the rotation is key for a Reds team looking to make a late playoff push for the second half of the 2026 season.

Burnes (elbow/side) was cleared to begin a throwing program Friday after an MRI showed signs of healing, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Burnes has been on the injured list since June 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, though his time on the shelf was extended when he suffered a teres major strain while throwing to live hitters last month. Now that he's made encouraging progress in his recovery from both injuries, he's been given the green light to restart a throwing progam. It will take him a while to ramp up after missing more than a full season, though the team hasn't yet shut the door on Burnes returning before the end of the year.

Ashcraft and the Pirates won't face the Brewers on Friday, as the game was postponed due to rain.

The Pirates and Brewers will play a doubleheader Saturday to make up Friday's contest, and Ashcraft will toe the slab during the earlier game, per Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com. The 26-year-old righty has collected a win in each of his last four starts while posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 32:6 K:BB across 23.2 innings.

Sproat and the Brewers won't face the Pirates on Friday, as the game was postponed due to rain.

The two sides will make up Friday's contest during a doubleheader Saturday, and the Brewers will send Sproat to the mound to start Game 1, per Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The 25-year-old righty has begun to turn things around as of late, giving up two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts while posting a 2.88 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB across 25 innings in that span.

The Giants optioned Whisenhunt to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday.

Whisenhunt gave up two runs in 5.2 innings during his spot start against Colorado on Thursday, but he'll now return to the minors in order to make room for Keaton Winn's (elbow) return from the injured list. Whisenhunt now owns a 3.38 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 10.2 frames in the majors this season, and he could be an option to return to San Francisco later in the year if the big club's rotation depth is tested.

Henderson (elbow) has been cleared to begin a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Henderson has been sidelined all season after coming into spring training with a flexor strain. He's progressed enough in his rehab to test things out in games and should eventually join the rotation at Triple-A Memphis once he's deemed ready. Henderson has excelled in his two seasons in the minors, most recently holding a 2.59 ERA and 134:51 K:BB over 132 innings covering 25 starts with Double-A Springfield in 2025.